~ Time to Travel ~
A/N: Thanks to my temporary beta-reader, Jade121, and all my reviewers:
BeCkY6: Crazy Nora? I feel rather sorry for her. She never wanted things to be like this either.
HarryGryffinGirl: Poor Nora indeed!
Jade: Everything will be explained here. You'll just have to read it to see.
Jamesflower: Thank you soo much! That means so much to me. What exactly is it that makes my story different from other time-travels?
Gryffindor
Tower
Common Room
Nora looked up at the voice. There were two of them, both looking at her with concern and surprise in their eyes. Her heart sank. Could the situation possibly be worse? Great! Bloody great! I break down and cry, and then Evans along with Granger find me like this! Just great!
"Come to gloat, have you?" she asked sourly. She didn't mean it to come out that way, it just did.
"As much as we don't like you," Granger started. Nora snorted. Understatement of the year, she wanted to say, but felt it would be very rude. She wasn't really the one who was in control here.
"We wouldn't do that," Granger finished her sentence.
"We just want to know why you're crying," questions Evans. Nora closed her eyes slowly, willing them to go away, wishing them to leave her alone.
"I was jealous," she said finally, and opened her eyes. She could hardly keep herself from smirking at their shocked faces. "Of you."
"W-Why?" was the only thing Hermione managed to get out.
"Why? You've got everything! You are best friends, and don't just hang out with each other because you're popular, your families care about you, and you're friends with the guys! Heck, everybody likes you! And me, they only think of one thing when it comes to me. I'm just a body," she said bitterly.
Lily and Hermione stared at each other. If somebody had told me a week ago that I'd be comforting Nora Perks in the middle of the night, I'd send the straight to St. Mungo's, Lily thought, as she sat down next to Nora and told her: "You're not just a body, Nora. Nobody's just a body."
"Then what else am I?"
Hermione sat down on the other side of her. "You are searching for yourself. And one day you will find who you really are. We all are. It doesn't matter if we stumble along, because one day we'll all get there."
Liar, a voice said inside Hermione's head. I doubt if someone like Wormtail has found himself yet?
Nora smiled a watery smile. "If somebody had told me a month ago I'd be crying in the arms of you two, I'd floo St. Mungo's in a sec."
Lily smiled. Wasn't that exactly what she had thought just a moment ago? Maybe she and Nora weren't so different after all. But she quickly shook that thought of her. They were different as night and day. Nothing could ever change that.
They were silent for a while, before Nora said, "Look, guys, this doesn't mean we're, like, best friends or anything."
Lily snorted and commented, "Best friends with Nora Perks? That'd be the day. I'm sorry, Nora, but we're totally different."
"I'm glad you agree," said Nora, a bit acidly. She felt vaguely insulted, even though it was she who had brought it up in the first place.
"Why don't you go up to your friends? Lily and I'll be up in a few minutes, to give you time to make up a lie," suggests Hermione.
"Why are you doing this? What have I ever done for you to help me?" questions Nora.
Neither answered. Some day, Nora, you'll understand, Hermione thought. You just have to walk a bit more towards yourself.
Gryffindor
Tower
Common Room
Later that evening
"Hermione," Ron sighed in frustration. The three travelers had found and empty classroom to talk in. "What's gotten into you? I can't believe you actually went on a date with James!"
"What happened to 'we must get James and Lily together'?" Neville accused.
Hermione glared at them both. Don't they understand anything?
"There is a very simple explanation for that. I can explain it in one word," states Hermione.
"By all means, we're not stopping you," Ron urged. Is he jealous? Hermione thought.
"Love," she said softly. "I love James Potter." Silence met her statement. The two boys stared at her.
"This," said Neville, breaking the silence. "Is bad."
"Very bad," Ron agreed. "You'll have to break up with him, Hermione."
How can he just say that, matter-of-factly? Does he realize what it is he's asking me to do? Glaring at Ron, Hermione states, "I al ready tried."
"Obviously not hard enough," Ron said, not entirely kindly. His patience was wearing low. Why was she so stubborn? What had happened to the sensible Hermione he knew? Couldn't she see that what they asked her to do was the right thing? Wasn't it she who had said they needed to get James and Lily together.
"Well, I think this complicates our situation a bit," Neville said quietly. Gee, ya think? Ron wanted to say, but decided against it. Hermione looked really distressed, and he figured it really wouldn't be kind to her if he did.
"You really need to break up with him," Ron pressed again. To his great surprise, she agreed.
"I'll do it tonight," she said monotonously. It was as if she couldn't care.
Fourth
Floor
Empty Classroom
Great. Bloody great! Lily sighed in frustration. Is there any way to get out of this situation?
She stared at James, and couldn't help but smile a little. Apparently, he was having thoughts along the same lines.
"Are you sure 'Alohomora' doesn't work," he sighed.
Getting irritated at him, Lily snaps, "Trust me, Potter, if it did, I wouldn't be stuck in a broom cupboard with you."
"Touchy are we, Evans?" he teased. She and Hermione really are alike. If Hermione saw me, she'd bite my head off right now. Then again, a small voice said, I guess that's what Lily will do in a few minutes.
"Shut up," she snapped. How can Hermione stand him? Granted, he's funny, and looks good, but arghh, he's so damn egocentric it isn't even funny. She thought about Nora Perks. Who could have guessed that that air-headed bimbo had something more to her than just boys and appearances. I think it will be some time before she calls me 'Mudblood' again. Lily smiled a little.
"What are you smiling at? Found a way to get us out?" James asked hopefully.
She sighed. The smile vanished quickly. "No."
"Well, it's your fault we're stuck here," James accused.
"Excuse me? How can it be my fault? You were the one who locked the door!" shouts Lily.
"I was trying to get away from Clevis! I didn't know it had Unlocking Charms on it!" yells James.
"Clevis? Come on, she isn't even frightening!" huffs Lily waving a dismissing hand.
"She is when she's suddenly decided that she's got a crush on you," explains James. Lily cracked up. She couldn't imagine sugary-sweet Professor Clevis stalking James. Looks like Hermione's got competition, she thought.
"It isn't funny," James whined. "What if Professor Barker fancied you?"
This shut Lily up immediately. Professor Barker, the Head of Slytherin and DADA teacher, was one of the most hated teachers in the school. He did not favor the Slytherins; he was just as mean towards them as towards people from any other houses.
"That's sick, Potter," states Lily.
"What can I say, that's me and my sense of humor," laughs James.
They smiled at each other a bit. Making friends with Potter, Lily, how can you? Well, Hermione did, so he can't be that bad. Lily closed her eyes. Infernal battles really were trying.
"So, why don't we do something to pass time?" James suggested carefully. Would she accept, or would that temper flare up again? Why do I always have to be stuck with the ones with a temper? First Hermione, and now Lily. But he didn't mind really. It was better than all the girls who fell over giggling as soon as they saw him. She shrugged.
"Whatever."
They ended up playing rock, paper, and scissors. I could think of a million things more amusing than sitting in a broom cupboard playing with James, Lily thought, but she couldn't deny it was rather funny. Especially watching James. He threw hi soul into the game, and did dances of joy when he won. She couldn't help laughing. He isn't so bad, after all. Even though he made a complete idiot of himself during the Ball. He hardly paid any attention towards me, just looked at Hermione with puppy-dog eyes. Well, better Hermione than Camilla North.
Suddenly the cupboard opened. Blinding them both by the light that streamed into the closet.
"What are you doing here?" asked a silky voice. James froze. He knew that voice. Damn it! Clevis. He noticed Lily's smirk, and whacked her. She giggled.
"We were locked in, Professor," Lily said politely. "I guess I should leave now."
James stared incredulous after her. She can't just leave me here! He groaned. Lily was dead, when he got out of this.
Amelia found that after Lily had talked to her, her popularity had soared. Suddenly even some third-years wanted to be with her. She was a bit flattered over all the attention, but found it rather annoying. She felt as though they only wanted to be with her because she was James' friend. Walking along, talking with a first-year, Katie, she saw someone walk angrily along the corridor. When she came closer, she realized that it was James.
He was followed by a swooning group of girls. She smiled a little at him. She didn't know if he'd appreciate it if she made it know to all the school that they were friends. After all, Amos pretended she didn't exist, what was to say that James wouldn't do the same thing?
But James stopped and smiled at her. "Hello, Mia," he said kindly. This might show the swooning girls. Amelia raised her eyebrows. Mia? Nobody had ever given her a nickname before. "Hey, kid, fancy a ride?"
Mia looked at him questioningly. He sighed before he clarifies, "On my shoulders, stupid?"
A look of comprehension dawned on her face. Honestly, had she never been offered a ride before? She did have a brother. A brother that doesn't want anything to do with her, said a voice in his head. He felt very sorry for the little girl. She had shown that she was more than just the 'nerd of Hufflepuff'.
Amelia quickly climbed up. The feeling of being so high up was breathtaking. Every step James took, she wobbled as though she would fall off, but James had a firm grip around her feet. But what warmed her most was that; someone finally accepted her. And not by anyone, she was accepted by James Potter.
When they came in to the Great Hall for dinner, nearly all of the population at Hogwarts turned their heads towards them. Whispers of "who is she?" and "looks like Potter's taken a liking to the little Hufflepuff nerd" flew from nearly every mouth. Only James' close friends, including Lily, remained calm. Hermione stood up.
"I'll help you down, Amelia," she said, as she took a firm grip around the girl's waist and lifted her down to the floor. James wrapped his arm around her, and she sighed. Why did she have to do this? Because of Harry, that annoyingly sensible voice in her head replied. She saw Amos Diggory rise from his seat. Hermione smirked, as did James.
"Looks like Golden Boy doesn't like the attention his sister gets," whispers James.
Hermione laughed. The look of Diggory's face was priceless as he made his way towards his sister. Amelia had gone a rather sickly shade of gray. She hadn't thought about what would happen when her brother saw her with the Enemy.
"It's alright, Mia. You'll survive," a kind voice whispered in her ear. Amos advanced.
"Amelia," he said in a strained voice. "I think we need to talk."
She nodded, and he took a firm grip of her arm. It hurt. She looked over her shoulder at James and Hermione. James made a thumbs up signal to her. Amelia couldn't help but smile. So what if Amos didn't approve, he couldn't stop her from seeing James.
Dinner was a nightmare. Ron and Neville kept shooting her pointed looks, and Hermione found she couldn't focus on her food. Beside her, Sirius wolfed down as much food as he could.
"That's barbaric," she told him, but not with the usual sharpness of voice. He simply grinned. She took a deep breath. Here goes. "James, I need to talk to you," Hermione said. He was about to make a witty reply, but when he saw her serious look.
James simply said, "OK."
I'm one of the few people who actually break their own heart, Hermione thought grimly.